Long time no read… well, kind of. It has been awhile since I’ve posted anything in regard to my thirty days of photos challenge. If you haven’t noticed, it has been a wee-bit longer than thirty days. Writing papers and reading multiple books will have that effect. But I’m working on it, I promise.

On the other hand… back to the wonderful world of books! Today’s post is all about my favorite book. Unfortunately, it comes in the form of a series. Fortunately, that means more of the characters I love!

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.

Blue Bloods is the first book in a series by Melissa de la Cruz. I love this book. I love this series. There are few books where I can start reading and I will completely lose myself in its pages. I guess this is why people love to watch me read–everything I feel or think becomes written across my face–more so at that moment than ever. I even start having conversations with the characters, and yeah, most people might do that anyway. But I take these conversations to a whole new level. Ask my roomie-friend and fellow blogger, Amanda–she will tell you all about it! haha

But seriously, I was apprehensive to read them in the first place because a former dormmate recommended them. But I read them anyway because this is a series about vampires. I could not stop reading. Historical, biblical, all kinds of mythology just shot up out of the woodwork–I was forever enchanted. Yes, it is a series about teen vampires–but there’s a lot more to these books than hormones, I promise! lol

I hope you are having a great month, I’m sick at the moment. The soonest I will probably have a moment to write again is at the end of April. Exams are the first week of May. Then, LOTS of things are happening–I think that might actually deserve its own post–and the Reading List for 2011 might be able to start-up. 🙂

“When you had lived for thousands of years, going through your memories was like trying to find a contact lens in a pile of glass” (51).

Warning: Spoilers ahead. I’m not going to lie–I screamed when this came in at the library. And my friends, it did not disappoint. I–for the FIRST TIME EVER–wanted to be caught making my suprise face. Crazy probably–damn near scared Amanda. 🙂 So much happened in this novel, it is definitely more jam packed than the first three: Blue Bloods, Masquerade, and Revelations. I did not put it down except to go to sleep–it only took me a day to finish 368 pages of speechlessness.

I was not sure what to think about each chapter belonging to the three central female characters: Schuyler, Bliss, and Mimi. However, prior to this post I would have spit at the character named Mimi–evil. This novel changed all of that. I can’t tell you why–just that you may or may not, depending on your tolerance level, have more patience with her during Misguided Angel.

And then there’s Jack Force. Dude! Why, why, why! I spent the first part of his appearance banging my head against a wall because Schuyler had already made a choice–it was not okay. So frustrating. I will not be shy about this though–I’ve secretly been rooting for Jack and Schuyler since he made his first appearance in Blue Bloods. All I’m going to say is this: If my love life ever becomes three-people complicated, Houston, we will have a problem. I need to find someone who has read this book so I can gush over it with them–I know, I know–how teen-like. I don’t care. :) Shout out to my friend, Kala: Girl, hurry and read these books!!!

Onto my homegirl, Schuyler. I’m so happy she has been able to learn the use of her powers in the year she and Oliver have been on the run. I feel bad for her though–Jack and Oliver. Same story, different day. I think it is just a matter of of getting to the events that will FORCE her to make a final decision… or maybe someone can make one for her. How do you say complicated: We have a Mimi, Jack, Schuyler triangle. Then we have a Oliver, Schuyler, Jack triangle. Oh goodness!!

I just can’t get over the use of biblical references and historical events. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I love almost anything history–European history–America is too young. But to mix Bible stories with historical events–Oh my God–match made in Heaven. Props to you, de la Cruz–you are amazing.

On another note, this novel holds true to the quotes at the very beginning of the novel:

The murdered do haunt their murderers.– Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights

I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems, got to open my eyes to everything….– Evanescence, “Bring Me to Life”

In that, I was quite content to find out that two characters have made a return. Granted, one of them did not make a permanent return–RIP Dylan. I am glad those Silver Bloods can do no more harm to you. And I will not say the other character’s name–you will definitely have to read this novel to discover that information.

There has been a great deal of character development. It has been so touching to see characters make choices they would not have had to make a year ago. De la Cruz has written her characters well. I am really, truly excited for Misguided Angel–the fifth and possibly final book in the series. Loose ends are being tied up and one day, I will re-read the Blue Bloods series; pulling my own loose ends of the novel together. For more information on the books and any spin-offs, click here. The Van Alen Legacy gets a 4 out of 5. Superb writing.

I finished it a couple of weeks ago, and wasn’t entirely sure I would even write a review–but here it is. For it being a novel for young adults, I really enjoyed reading Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz. This author has also written Masquerade, Revelations, The Van Alen Legacy, and other novels that seem interesting. I was thoroughly impressed with how the book incorporated not only historical people, events, and places, but also Biblical stories such as the Fall of Lucifer. You can really tell that she did her research, which in my book, increases your credibility.

While this series has been out since 2006, I’ve only recently heard about it and started reading it. I was apprehensive to even read this series thanks to all of the vampire craze caused by Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga. Granted, I did read her vampire novels as well–much better than their movies, but that is probably not saying alot. In any case, de la Cruz’s vampires are different than all other vampires–you aren’t sparkling like Edward Cullen for starters. I miss when vampires were almost taboo and you didn’t have screaming girls running around like mad-hatters! I wonder if they will have figured out that vampires would rather mutilate them than tenderly kiss their lips. ANYWAY.

I do have to say that if you like reading novels about vampires, then this would definitely be another to add to your arsenal. Some of the main characters are not always easily likable, but then again, people who have a stick up their ass rarely are. The main character, Schuyler Van Alen offers some connection to girls, while Oliver Hazard-Perry, her best friend, offers guys something to grasp onto. I truly can’t compare de la Cruz to any author I have read that writes about vampires or werewolves because I haven’t read anything like her before. Her vampires remember their former lives and, if they have a soul mate, they spend their lives searching for he/she. They just fit in with reality more than other vamp novels.

In any case, Kirkus Reviews states that Blue Bloods is “A juicy voyeuristic peek into the lives of rich Mahattanites–who happen to be vampires.” This is only slightly true, however, if you are like me, you might also pick up a bit of a history and/or supernatural lesson. While many people might consider young adult novels to be mindless and plotless, there is plot and multiple sub-plots. There is definite character development, and many twists that leave you wondering if that really just happened. I would have to rate this 3.5/4 out of 5.